Russia and China Carry Out Joint Air Patrol Near Japan; Tokyo Calls It a “Show of Force”

Post by : Saif Nasser

Japan raised an alert on Tuesday after Russian and Chinese military aircraft carried out a joint air patrol around the country, adding more tension to the already strained ties between Tokyo and Beijing. Japan’s defence ministry confirmed that its fighter jets were scrambled to monitor the activity.

According to the ministry, two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers flew from the Sea of Japan toward the East China Sea, where they met two Chinese H-6 bombers. Together, they conducted a long-distance joint patrol over the Pacific region. The ministry added that four Chinese J-16 fighter jets joined the formation, flying between Okinawa and Miyako islands. The Miyako Strait is recognised as international airspace.

Japan also reported separate Russian military activity in the Sea of Japan at the same time. This included an A-50 early-warning aircraft and two Su-30 fighters. The coordinated movement of Russian and Chinese aircraft increased concerns in Tokyo about the growing military partnership between the two countries.

Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the joint flight was “clearly intended as a show of force against our nation.” He added that the activity posed a serious concern for Japan’s national security. He also stated that Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force followed strict air defence identification procedures to track and respond to the aircraft.

Russian news agencies later reported that the joint patrol near Japan lasted nearly eight hours.

South Korea also reported similar activity on Tuesday. Its military said that seven Russian aircraft and two Chinese aircraft entered its air defence identification zone, though they did not violate South Korean airspace.

The latest incident follows another tense moment over the weekend. Japan had accused Chinese carrier-based fighter jets of aiming radar at Japanese military aircraft, a claim China denied.

Tensions have been rising between the two nations since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated last month that Japan could respond if China used military force against Taiwan in a way that threatened Japan’s security.

In recent years, China and Russia have been strengthening their military cooperation. They have held joint anti-missile drills on Russian soil and combined naval exercises in the South China Sea, signalling deeper strategic alignment.